A Statistical Portrait of the Foreign-Born Population at Mid-Decade

This statistical profile of the foreign-born population is based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the Census Bureau’s 2005 American Community Survey public use microdata file, which was released August 29, 2006. The topics covered by the ACS are virtually the same as those in the long form of the decennial census. Fully implemented nationwide for the first time in 2005, the ACS became the largest household survey in the United States, with a sample of about 3 million addresses. It provides statistical resources not previously available except with data from a decennial census.

Explore a statistical profile of the foreign-born population at mid-decade.

The 2005 ACS is designed to provide estimates of the size and characteristics of the population residing in households. Although the household population is the bulk of the total population, it does not include persons residing in group quarters (e.g., dormitories, correctional facilities, and nursing homes). Less than 3% of the total population resides in group quarters. Because persons living in group quarters were not included in the 2005 ACS, the data contained in this profile of foreign-born persons are not comparable with the data included in subsequent Pew Hispanic Center profiles of foreign-born persons.

As a measure of population change, this report includes some tabulations for 2000 from the 2000 Census 5% public use microdata file. The 2000 Census enumerated the entire resident population, including persons residing in group quarters. However, for the purposes of comparing the 2000 tallies to the 2005 estimates from the ACS, all the tabulations herein only include persons residing in households.

In this statistical portrait, foreign-born persons include those born outside the United States and its outlying territories. The foreign-born population does not include persons born abroad of American parents.

Data tabulations were performed by Richard Fry. The statistical profile was designed and produced by Shirin Hakimzadeh.

Note: Table 30 was amended on October 20, 2006 to correct a tabulation error in the original, which was released on October 17, 2006.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.